The Cunning (18+)

35

A warmth rested on Jase's chest. His fingers mindlessly traced Madison's bare skin where the t-shirt had ridden up. She was still sleeping, the morning light pouring in through the window, with a cool breeze. He hadn't moved since waking up, trying not to think of the elephant in the room as he glided his fingertips over her petal-soft skin and back.

Careful not to move his shoulder and disturb her, Jase used his free arm to find his cigarettes. After securing one and lighting it, he glanced around the room. It looked the most lived-in it had ever looked. A pizza box sat on the desk beside a pile of clothes. Next to him was the lamp, four empty bottles, cigarettes, and the grinder and ashtray.

A tickling sensation invaded his chest. Unable to help it, Jase coughed, and Madison stirred.

Then stiffened.

They weren't high anymore. They couldn't justify any comfortable behaviour by blaming it on substances. She moved.

"Sorry, I didn't realise..." she trailed off, unsure what to say next. Jase lifted his arm she had released from underneath her head, placing it behind his own.

"It's fine," he replied, not looking at her as he smoked. The air between them chilled. There was a strange tension that could only be described as the fear one gets the morning after saying too much when they've had a few too many drinks.

Madison took herself to the bathroom, switching the shower on, hoping to rinse off the pillow talk and liven herself up. The bed was empty when she returned.

The night had been so different. For a moment, she'd allowed herself to relax into it. She could still feel Jase's fingers in her hair, see his smile at the back of her mind, and hear his voice grow gravelly as the night went on and he got tired.

But those things were left in the early hours of the morning, only welcome when the world was silent, and no one would suspect a thing. She couldn't let him distract her from the bigger picture.

*

Jase folded the pizza box, pushing it down in the bin.

"We got anything to do today?" Sam asked, taking a slice of pizza from the plate Jase had put in there minutes ago. He'd usually finish it, but he wasn't sure about the texture of a gluten-free base.

"I've got to go pick up from Ramon. Other than that, no," Jase replied. "Get me an apple out." Sam tossed him the fruit.

"How's Madison after the other night?" Sam's tone was cautious. After how Jase had lashed out at Mike, it was evident Madison was a touchy subject. Going as far as to bottle a punter wasn't 'part of a plan', but no one in the house was ready for that talk.

"She's alright. I gave her a Xanax so she could sleep. We haven't spoken about it since."

Sam grunted. "I doubt he'll be showing his face around here anytime soon," he said. Jase shrugged before jogging back upstairs, tossing Madison the apple. She caught it mid-air as he was closing the door without saying a word.

"I'll be back in a bit. Madison's door's unlocked so you don't need to let her out to go to the bathroom or anything," Jase told Sam as he put his shoes on.

"Is Benny back today?" Sam asked.

Jase shook his head, pushing his hair back. "Tomorrow."

Once Jase left, Sam headed to Janine's room. She was awake, but still in bed.

"Was that Jase leaving?" she asked. Sam nodded, placing the plate of left-over pizza on her dresser. She reached over and took a slice, biting and grimacing, "Why is the dough like that?" She tossed it back onto the plate, putting off by the new texture. Sam ignored her.

"I think you were right to question whether Madison likes Jase or not," he said. Janine sat up, moving her legs so he could sit down at the end of the bed.

"Why do you say that?"

Sam huffed at her for making him say it. "Come on. You saw everything I did the other night. That's not Jase. That's never been Jase for as long as we've known him." Janine rubbed her lips together. She reached for the miniature pot of Vaseline, coating them.

"What are you saying?" she asked.

Sam sighed, falling backward and dragging his hands down his face. "I'm saying he's in too deep."

"You think he has a soft spot for her?" she asked, gobsmacked but also a little impressed on Madison's part.

Sam raised his brows. "Don't you?"

Janine looked away, not wanting to say anything that might risk getting Madison into trouble. She rolled her shoulders. "I think there's plenty going on that we don't know about, and knowing Jase, he won't take well to being questioned about it." Sam groaned, closing his eyes. "But," Janine continued, "so what if he does? Look at us."

"Yeah, J, look at us." His words stung. Neither of them was happy about their position, but they did what they could. "You don't get it. Jase holds this entire thing together. It's his reputation that allows us to do what we do. It's bad enough we've got McKinney trying to get his foot in the door. We don't need Jase getting distracted over a girl. This isn't good."

*

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